SANDPOINT — In an unforeseen turn of events, Bonner County clerk candidate JoAnne Guzzi has resigned from the race, citing similarities between her candidacy and component Roger Rudd as the main reason.  

The announcement was made during a live candidate forum, hosted by Bonner County Farm Bureau at the Blanchard Community Center, where candidates running in the upcoming May primary elections had the opportunity to answer a series of questions in front of the public.  

Guzzi’s announcement came after Rudd’s explanation on how he would handle public concern about the election process, where the public expected her to give a similar response.  

Instead, she announced her resignation.    

“I’m going to be completely honest. After listening to my opponent, I have to tell you, I’m not more qualified than he is,” said Guzzi. “I am sitting here listening, and I’m just blown away by how ... knowledgeable you are, and how gung-ho you are. And I’m thinking to myself, ‘wow, I can’t even compete.’ So, I believe I’m gonna bow out. I believe it's the right thing to do. I know this is really strange, but I have no other recourse, really.”  

Guzzi said the announcement stemmed from Rudd’s response to handling public concerns, where it shocked her to realize she had nothing further to add to his statement.  

“He and I are aligned with so many of our beliefs on what the role is and what it entails. It felt like the same two individuals of the same mind are running for the position,” Guzzi said.  

She further said it didn’t make sense for her to continue the race, as she found herself rooting for her opponent as much as she was rooting for herself.  

“It was just so incredibly weird,” Guzzi said.  

In stating that she and Rudd were running a comparable race, Guzzi said she has no intentions to skew the race between Rudd and Spencer Hutchings but felt it was appropriate to step down due to her campaign being “duplicative” to Rudd’s.

Guzzi’s name will remain on the ballot during the May 19 primary elections for county clerk, alongside Hutchings and Rudd.